Caterpillar Part 1

Part 1 of building a caterpillar for pushing snow at a townhouse complex. Part 1 shows building the WOOD prototype to TEST the hydrostatic transaxles, motor & tracks. Steel frame in Part 2, and FINISHED in part 3. The tracks are from 2 snowmobiles, the motor is a 17hp Kohler. All design work and building has been done by me.
See Caterpillar Part 2, and Caterpillar Part 3 for more information.

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Science & Technology

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• Caterpillar Part 3

[Jackdg1984]

I like it but Y did u make the frame out off wood? Lol

[kent323is]

@Jackdg1984

That was the prototype. Check out Parts 2 & 3 and the other vidoes to see the final version. Steel frame, powdercoated, with full hydraulics for the blade. The wood was just to test the concept, and test the components.

[1302sami]

Hello I have seen all the videos and I would like to know if you have joined both hydrostatic transaxles or if they only have one exit shaft going to each track. Hoping you anterstand what i mean cose I m french! Thanks and you ve done a real good job!

[kent323is]

@1302sami

They are separate. There is a left transaxle that powers the left track, and a right transaxle that powers the right side. They are typically used in zero-turn lawn mowers.

Thanks for looking!

[kent323is]

Actually, both sleds were going to be junked as they are too old to be worth fixing (91 and 93). Both of them had blown engines, one of them had a hole the size of a quarter in the bottom of the crankcase. If you want any parts, I've got them for sale!

[2500vtg]

That is really neat. Where did you find the splined couplers that mate the hydro units to the track driveshafts?

[kent323is]

I bought shaft couplers that slipped over the splines on the track driveshafts, then used my vertical mill to put in a 1/4" keyway on the shaft. On the hydrostatic units, I cut off the flanged piece, which left me with a regular round shaft that was almost exactly the same diameter as the outside of the splined shaft of the track driveshaft. The hydro shaft was hardened, so it was more difficult to mill in the keyway, but I got it done!

Thanks for all of the positive comments!

[video0101010]

Not bad for a guy from South Dakota. So are you still with Dak in China or have you come back to Brookings?  BTW congrats on the new wife.

[MrMrtiki]

Hello can you tell me how you wired up your engine to key & for guages

[kenquagg]

Ma's Be eye'n It up for a Winter walker. Dang Hurry yup and getter dun John Boy or u best be gettn cold grits regular like

[kenquagg]

Its a Hillbilly Snow Plow if i ever seen one.. U can cruz down to the local store for a pak of Malboro's and sum Chicken chips...

[39cummins]

Nice work!! That thing should have amazing traction!!

[1302sami]

Hello I have seen all the videos and I would like to know if you have joined both hydrostatic transaxles or if they only have one exit shaft going to each track. Hoping you anterstand what i mean cose I m french! Thanks and you ve done a real good job!